Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1887-02-19
FROM THE BEAUTIFUL ISLE-THE
QUEEN OF THE ANTILLES.
HAVANA, CUBA, February 9, 1887.

EDITOR IHTELLIaENCER:-You and
,ther friends were informed by
etter from Jacksonville, Florida, of
my movements down to that agreeable
place. We greatly enjoyed our two
weeks' sojourn there, meeting with q
number Of persons known to US in
other days, among them and chief
one in business circles, reported veal
Thy, with an increasing prosperity, was
Col. ]. Q. Burbridge, who organized
and commanded the second confeder-
ate regiment. You doubtless remem-
Der that the iooloDel ct the battle OF
Spring field received the terrific charge
Of the regular troops led in person by
Gen. Lyon, who fell In the conflict.
received minnie ball which
tore away q portion of the rear of his
skull, leaving brains protruding..
Among the most elegant suburban
homes is that of Mrs Alexander
across the st. Johns, immedi.
ately opposite the city. Through the
politeness of our valued friend, John
Cook, Esq., of Indiana, an acquaint-
ance of the proprletress, q special In.
yitation was sent inviting my wife,
Mrs. Akers and myself, to call at our
pleasure to sec Mrs. N. and take q look
at the premises. We did 80, and ell of
NJ will long retain Q pleasant recollec-
tion of the visit We were met and
welcomed at the threshold BY Mrs. NJ,
shown through the spacious parlors,
adorned with superb furniture, rich
carpets and costly brio brao and pic
tures; in q few moments her niece,
Mrs. Crosby, came In with g. smile
sweet as sunshine. to augment with her
merry tone the aoceptability of our
presence; directly, we were escorted
by the ladies through labyrinth Of
flowers, to look upon orange groves,
with other objects, and scenery that
was simply enhancing. do not know
the extent of this regal domain. but l
do know 1t has large frontage, laved
BY the waves and sweetly laced BY the
foam of broad, surging river sublime
IN its breadth, majestic In its roll. l
heard this fairy home was the undivid-
ed property of the lady, gift, together
with carte blanche to improve 1t ss she
chose-a gift from her husband,s the
Hon. Alexander Mitchell, millionaire
magnate OF Wisconsin. president OF the
Chicago, Milwaukee 8 st. Paul r r.
On the strong, Notwithstanding arms
of giant live oak, said to be the iarg-
eat in the state, called In Legendary
lore, "The Council Tree,' because In
the immensity of its shade In bygone
days, ere the relentless exterminating
march OF the monoplizing Saxon had
showed them away, the red men Assem-
bled, when summoned for work OF red
intent, is perched q graceful summer
house, comfortably furnished, for one
who may be privileged and Inclined
to read, write or sleep. Altogether,
the winter dwelling place OF this ssti-
mable lady is suggestive of Eden.
We left Jacksonville February lst,
for Tampa, having resolved to spend
ten days of our time with the "Qaeen
of the Antilles.n State rooms were
secured for our party, and when we
reached that port, we Immediately went
to them The good ship, Asscotte,
our temporary home, pushed away
from the dock about 10 O'Clock, p. m,
Ger the glad waters of the dark blue sea- ?
bearing us e.. .-.- = 20 '."
"Gay Of heart, and light of wing. -..-.-
AS Eden's garden birds,n
to q wished tor haven. All that nlght
and the ensuing day, till the sun wsnl
down, we coursed out of sight Of land
over q waveless bosom of brine, reach
ing Key West as the shades Of might
began to fall. Key West, you under.
stand, is detached far away from ths
main land, has six or eight Thousand
inhabitants most Of whom are mon.
grels "tracing their life blood back Il
parent lakes'' Of Spanish, Indian ant
negro ancestry. With q gentleman
friend walked out for an hour. The
principal portion of the town wss de
stroyed year ago. New buildings art
beginning to arise, among them,e neal
completion, is Q much needed hotel
We left this place about the same hour
of the succeeding night that we lef
Tampa. Thus far all had gone well
merrymaking had been continuous; il
was q treat to an "old salt" to heal
bearded men and bright women, il
their unsophistOcated natures, congrat
ulating each other on the her0iBm dis.
played in daring the waves that ole
traditions had taught them 10 dread
aud that day and nights experience
had demonstrated were but An iuven
ton of hard-hearted parents to intimi.
date young people from strayingz from
the paternsl roof. The purser .ot tht
ship, q man of considerable age, fine per
sonal appearance aud oourtly manners
seemed to command the respect ant
confidence of all the passengers; he IS.
sured them that they would arrive uu-
harmed and we'll Ut Havana next morn
ing In time for breakfast. Being some
thing of "a SALT" heard with seeming
Indifference, but really with ineredull.
ty. Like the captain, of whom al
have heard, who, when leading hi
company Into battle, instructed them
! when the fight became too warm, to re-
treat, renarking at the same time, Al
he was little lame he would star
back ere the fray began, sought my
room early, and was exempt from sick
ness, being laughed at by the ladies fol
SO doing. .-'.0sl -tsj r7.
"The moon was fair. the sky was- clear,
No breath came DER the ses."
Ny family, indeed most of the pas
sengers, remained on deck to q late
hour, ga1ing Onto them-the new anC
placid scene; they did not retire much
before midnight, aud AL hour there
after, "white waves were heavins
high," and prayer for mercy aud 8
vail OF nguish was heard Throughout,
the ship; the strong man had fallen
who, the day before had been "soarinP
il his pride of might" his hosrse-
toned shout for aid was as loud as tbs
mourning sea; the bright-eyeG
womsn's gentler sighs told of her suf-
ferings in more subdued voice; human
aid was insufficient for the occasion
Neptune had risen in bis strength tc
demand his dues, and they had to be
rendered unto him. AZ the good pur.
ser promised, we arrived safely q,
| Havana in time for break fast, but al
hs' not gone well. I arose with tn.
: freshness of feeling Of a strong swim